Departure information

This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements

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Responsible tourism

Responsible tourism: Sri Lanka wildlife holiday, Culture and Beach

Environment

We know our wildlife; in fact it is buried within the roots of our company and will always be so. Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of biological endemism (a high percentage of flora and fauna is endemic) and there are quite a few endangered critters that call it home. Of the 91 (approx.) mammal species found in Sri Lanka, over 40 are threatened, of these, 9 are critical. As well as mammals, there are over 171 reptile species, one of the richest amphibian diversities in the world and over 200 bird species. We understand that we need to preserve their natural habitat and home and contribute a percentage of each safari sold to wildlife conservation, always keeping our eyes peeled for new projects to get involved with.

We aim to reduce waste and our impact on the environment within our destinations, and at home in the UK, where our offices our based. We work in partnership with the Borough of Brighton & Hove in an attempt to recycle and reuse as much as possible. Our clients are always advised on the best way to do this when away. We recommend using environmentally friendly shampoos, soaps and toiletries, to avoid leaving any litter (whether it is biodegradable or not)

Whenever possible we use accommodation that savours every drop of precious water; from using environmentally friendly flushing toilets and to savouring rain water for washing, to using solar power heating.

Accommodation when travelling will vary, but we do try to be as environmentally friendly as possible, promoting the use of locally eco-lodges where we can. Please bear in mind that it is not always possible to find eco-friendly accommodation in some remote destinations; if this is the case then we make every effort to alert the management of the accommodation in question to ways of improving their service with the environment in mind.

We try to use shared excursions and transfers, minimising the carbon emissions from the vehicles used.

Community

Where possible, we always use local suppliers in preference to others, whether this is in the purchase of provisions, accommodation, transport or equipment. Through the employment of our local ground operators, who use local guides and drivers, money is fed directly back into individual families and villages that would otherwise not benefit from tourism, as well as giving more jobs to local people. Great guiding is essential on wildlife adventures and few people know a place better than the locals. Even on specialist led trips, we still try our best to use the local guides along side, we whole-heartedly do not believe in taking jobs from local populations for our own needs.

When it comes to accommodation, we have tried to use lodges that are further away from the usual tourist trail, thus spreading the money spent by tourists further into the communities. This is turn shows the economic importance of the wildlife and natural assets of the area.

We make sure tourists have the opportunity to buy local souvenirs and handicrafts, assisting further to contribute to their community, and always give support to local communities and conservation agencies. We advise people not to bargain just for the sake of it and because it is the ‘thing to do’; you should pay what you feel the object is worth to yourself and the vendor, bearing in mind local cultures.

Please note that we give a direct contribution of each safari sold to conserving the wildlife, helping local communities and supporting local conservation agencies.